Scientists: Floods, droughts will worsen

April 11, 2008

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Scientists predicted Thursday that climate change in coming decades will cause more flooding in the Northern Hemisphere and droughts in some southern and arid zones.

A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also said some areas around the Mediterranean, parts of southern Africa, northeastern Brazil and the U.S. West are likely to suffer water shortages.

Rajendra Pachauri, the chief UN climate scientist, said at the end of a meeting in Budapest that the weather changes could lead to a food crisis.

"We may see a decline in agriculture production," said Pachauri, who also is chairman of the IPCC, which shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize.